Post-disaster physical symptoms of firefighters and police officers: role of types of exposure and post-traumatic stress symptoms

Estimating the Acute Health Effects of Smoke Exposure from an Urban Factory Fire Accident: A Case Study of a Tire Factory Fire in Korea

BACKGROUND

A major industrial fire accident occurred in a tire manufacturing factory in Daejeon, Korea, on 12 March 2023 and lasted for 3 d, generating air pollutant emissions. Although evidence regarding the health effects of urban fires is limited, residents near tire factory may have experienced health hazards due to smoke exposure from fire plumes.

OBJECTIVES

Capitalizing on the timing of this fire incident as a natural experiment, we estimated the attributable excess air pollution exposure and associated disease development among residents living near the tire factory.

METHODS

We used the generalized synthetic control method to estimate air pollution exposure and health burden attributable to the accident among residents living in smoke-exposed districts. Based on satellite images and air pollution monitoring results, three administrative districts (within 1.2 km from the factory) were defined as smoke-exposed, and the other 79 districts of Daejeon were defined as controls. Among the 11 monitoring stations in Daejeon, the station located 500 m from the factory was used to estimate excess air pollution exposure (PM 10 , PM 2.5 , NO 2 , O 3 , SO 2 , and CO) for residents in the exposed districts. The number of daily district-level disease-specific incidence cases were acquired from the National Health Insurance Database and used to estimate excess health burden resulting from the fire.

RESULTS

During the first week following the factory fire, residents of exposed districts had an estimated excess exposure to 125.2 [95% confidence interval (CI): 44.9, 156.7] μ g / m 3 of PM 10 , 50.4 (95% CI: 12.7, 99.8) ppb of NO 2 , and 32.0 (95% CI: 21.0, 35.9) ppb of SO 2 . We also found an average increase in the incidence cases of other diseases of upper respiratory tract [20.6 persons (95% CI: 6.2, 37.4)], lung disease due to external agents [2.5 persons (95% CI: 2.1, 3.3)], urticaria and erythema [5.9 persons (95% CI: - 0.6 , 11.2)], and episodic and paroxysmal disorders [8.5 persons (95% CI: 3.7, 13.4)] in exposed districts.

DISCUSSION

Excessive air pollution exposure and disease incidence were identified among residents living close to the tire factory. Preventive measures, such as a warning system, to avoid health impacts to people breathing fire-related pollution may be beneficial for communities impacted by such events. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP14115.

Assessing the association between probable posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and quality of life among emergency service workers using path analysis

BACKGROUND

Emergency service workers have highly stressful occupations; the stressors encountered can contribute to the development of mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

OBJECTIVE

The present study used a conceptual model and survey to identify variables influencing the association between probable PTSD and quality of life (QOL) in emergency service workers.

METHOD

PTSD was assessed using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised. QOL was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey. Path analysis was used to determine whether stress-coping (Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced [Brief COPE] scores), social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support [MSPSS] scores), and resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale scores) explain the association between probable PTSD and QOL among 220 emergency service workers in Japan.

RESULTS

Impact of Event Scale-Revised scores were significantly positively associated with Brief COPE Active coping scores and significantly negatively associated with MSPSS scores. Brief COPE Active coping and MSPSS scores were significantly positively associated with Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale scores, which were in turn significantly positively associated with Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey scores.

CONCLUSION

Active coping in response to stressful situations is important for maintaining good mental health among emergency service workers. Active coping and social support may strengthen resilience, and resilience may improve QOL. Screening for mental health and QOL should include simultaneous assessment of stress-coping, social support, and resilience. Although the findings of this cross-sectional study are important, it could not confirm a causal relationship between PTSD and QOL.

Behavioral and Occupational Health in Military Firefighters: An Understudied Population

To our knowledge, no studies on health conditions in U.S. military firefighters exist. Data and demographics from the Defense Medical Epidemiology Database were analyzed on several shared medical issues among military personnel and civilian firefighters. Descriptive statistics and Chi-Square goodness of fit tests were conducted to support study aims. Between 2001 and 2015, substantial incidence rate increases (per 10,000) of tinnitus, PTSD, insomnia, and OSA (2005-2015) were observed. Modest to large increases in depressive disorders, adjustment reaction, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder were observed. Decreasing rates were observed for alcohol dependence, hypertension, and tobacco use disorder. While efforts have examined the impact of sustained operations on military members, first responder military subgroups like firefighters are deficient. Cognitive Behavior Therapy interventions are efficacious for preventing and reducing behavioral health problems; therefore, tailoring them specifically for U.S. military firefighters could significantly improve quality of life and long-term health.

Evaluation of a trauma therapy programme within emergency service organizations

BACKGROUND

Occupational health practitioners working in emergency services, where employees are exposed to a higher level of physical or psychological trauma, need to be able to access trauma therapy programmes which are economically viable and effective in reducing post-traumatic stress disorder and associated symptoms of anxiety and depression.

AIMS

The aim of this review is to provide evidence on benefits of a short-term organizational programme of trauma therapy using NICE (2018) [1] recommended interventions.

METHODS

The review examined the pre- and post-therapy clinical scores from 429 emergency service professionals (ESPs) who were employed in five police forces, two fire and two ambulance services. The ESPs in higher risk roles were in a psychological surveillance programme, with those found to be experiencing clinically significant levels of trauma-related symptoms being referred to a psychologist for an assessment which identified the ESPs requiring trauma therapy. At the end of the therapy, the symptoms of the ESPs were re-assessed, and the scores before and after the therapy were compared.

RESULTS

The results showed a significant improvement in the level of symptoms, with 81% of ESPs no longer exhibiting clinically significant trauma symptoms and 6% showing an increase in symptoms. In addition, the clinical results also showed improvements in ESPs' perceived work capacity and quality of social relationships.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings indicate that there are clinical and personal benefits to using an organizationally based short-term model of trauma therapy in an emergency service setting.

Mental Disorders in Firefighters Following Large-Scale Disaster

Firefighting service is known to involve high rates of exposure to potentially traumatic situations, and research on mental health in firefighting populations is of critical importance in understanding the impact of occupational exposure. To date, the literature concerning prevalence of trauma-related mental disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has not distinguished between symptomology associated routine duty-related exposure and exposure to large-scale disaster. The present systematic review synthesizes a heterogeneous cross-national literature on large-scale disaster exposure in firefighters and provides support for the hypothesis that the prevalence of PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorders are elevated in firefighters compared with rates observed in the general population. In addition, we conducted narrative synthesis concerning several commonly assessed predictive factors for disorder and found that sociodemographic factors appear to bear a weak relationship to mental disorder, while incident-related factors, such as severity and duration of disaster exposure, bear a stronger and more consistent relationship to the development of PTSD and depression in cross-national samples. Future work should expand on these preliminary findings to better understand the impact of disaster exposure in firefighting personnel.

Perceptions of Mental Health and Wellbeing Following Residential Displacement and Damage from the 2018 St. John River Flood

Climate change has spurred an increase in the prevalence and severity of natural disasters. Damage from natural disasters can lead to residential instability, which negatively impacts mental health and wellbeing. However, research on the mental health of residents who are displaced after natural disasters is relatively novel and needs more study. This study investigates experiences of mental health in residents in New Brunswick, Canada, who experienced residential damage and/or displacement during the 2018 spring flood. Lived experiences were studied through focus groups with 20 residents and perceptions of community mental health and wellbeing were captured during key informant interviews with 10 local community leaders. Data collection and analysis employed grounded theory. Findings indicate that those who had residential displacement or damage due to the flooding experienced negative mental health impacts, both during and following the flood. While natural disasters have devastating impacts on mental health, the data also indicate that the communities were positively impacted by a collective and collaborative response to the flood. This paper argues for the utility of communal coping as a concept to describe the experiences of communities following residential damage and/or displacement following natural disasters.

Stressors of Korean Disaster Relief Team Members during the Nepal Earthquake Dispatch: a Consensual Qualitative Research Analysis

We conducted in-depth interviews with 11 Korean Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) members about stress related to disaster relief work and analyzed the interview data using the Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) method in order to evaluate difficulties in disaster relief work and to develop solutions to these problems in cooperation with related organizations. Results showed that members typically experienced stress related to untrained team members, ineffective cooperation, and the shock and aftermath of aftershock experiences. Stress tended to stem from several factors: difficulties related to cooperation with new team members, the frightening disaster experience, and the aftermath of the disaster. Other stressors included conflict with the control tower, diverse problems at the disaster relief work site, and environmental factors. The most common reason that members participated in KDRT work despite all the stressors and difficulties was pride about the kind of work it involved. Many subjects in this study suffered from various stresses after the relief work, but they had no other choice than to attempt to forget about their experiences over time. It is recommended that the mental health of disaster relief workers will improve through the further development of effective treatment and surveillance programs in the future.

Social and occupational factors associated with psychological distress and disorder among disaster responders: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

When disasters occur, there are many different occupational groups involved in rescue, recovery and support efforts. This study aimed to conduct a systematic literature review to identify social and occupational factors affecting the psychological impact of disasters on responders.

METHODS

Four electronic literature databases (MEDLINE®, Embase, PsycINFO® and Web of Science) were searched and hand searches of reference lists were carried out. Papers were screened against specific inclusion criteria (e.g. published in peer-reviewed journal in English; included a quantitative measure of wellbeing; participants were disaster responders). Data was extracted from relevant papers and thematic analysis was used to develop a list of key factors affecting the wellbeing of disaster responders.

RESULTS

Eighteen thousand five papers were found and 111 included in the review. The psychological impact of disasters on responders appeared associated with pre-disaster factors (occupational factors; specialised training and preparedness; life events and health), during-disaster factors (exposure; duration on site and arrival time; emotional involvement; peri-traumatic distress/dissociation; role-related stressors; perceptions of safety, threat and risk; harm to self or close others; social support; professional support) and post-disaster factors (professional support; impact on life; life events; media; coping strategies).

CONCLUSIONS

There are steps that can be taken at all stages of a disaster (before, during and after) which may minimise risks to responders and enhance resilience. Preparedness (for the demands of the role and the potential psychological impact) and support (particularly from the organisation) are essential. The findings of this review could potentially be used to develop training workshops for professionals involved in disaster response.

Transtorno de Estresse Pós-Traumático (TEPT) em Bombeiros de Belo Horizonte, Brasil: Prevalência e Fatores Ocupacionais Associados

RESUMO O objetivo do presente estudo foi estimar a prevalência (últimos 30 dias) de Transtorno de Estresse Pós-Traumático (TEPT) e investigar se variáveis ocupacionais estão associadas ao desfecho em bombeiros de Belo Horizonte, Brasil. Estudo transversal foi realizado em 2011. Dentre 794 elegíveis, 711 (89,5%) participaram. Informações foram obtidas por questionário de autorrelato: variáveis sociodemográficas e ocupacionais, saúde e eventos extralaborais adversos. A prevalência de TEPT foi 6,9%. Variáveis ocupacionais contribuíram para explicar o desfecho no modelo final (regressão logística multivariável): fatores psicosssociais do trabalho, eventos traumáticos ocupacionais, tempo de trabalho e absenteísmo. Idade, problemas de saúde mental no passado e eventos adversos extralaborais também foram associados ao TEPT. Os resultados são discutidos considerando os pressupostos do Modelo Demanda-Controle.

The quality of prescription drug utilization five years after the 2003 Bam earthquake

PURPOSE

Few reports considering drug use among earthquake survivors exist. The present study aims to examine the Bam earthquake's impact on prescribing patterns and drug use among residents five years post-disaster.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH

In this study, 297,104 prescriptions, issued by general practitioners in Bam city in 2008, were investigated for drugs/prescriptions, drug name, drug category, using WHO appropriate general practice prescribing indicators.

FINDINGS

Mean drugs per prescription was 3.1. Drugs affecting the central nervous system were the most frequently used among Bam residents, representing 25.1 per cent, followed by antimicrobials, respiratory, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal tract drugs. Benzodiazepines were the most frequently used central nervous system drugs (15.8 per cent) followed by narcotic analgesics and tricyclic antidepressants. Penicillins (6.4 per cent) and cephalosporines (2.3 per cent) were the most frequently used antimicrobial drugs.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE

Results emphasize increased drug use for psychological disturbances and the need for strategies to improve mental health among disaster survivors.

Differences in posttraumatic stress reactions between witnesses and direct victims of motor vehicle accidents

The present study describes posttraumatic stress reactions in young witnesses of motor vehicle accidents (MVAs). This study investigated (a) whether witnesses of MVAs report fewer trauma symptoms than direct victims, but more than adolescents who were never exposed to an MVA; and (b) whether individual differences in sex, negative appraisal, avoidant coping, and social support account for variability in trauma symptoms beyond status as a witness as compared to a victim. Self-report data came from a community-based sample of 3,007 adolescents with an average age of 14.6 years and comprising 53% boys. Compared to direct victims of an MVA in which someone was injured, witnesses of MVAs with injury reported significantly less internalizing symptoms, such as symptoms of posttraumatic stress (d = 0.25), fear (d = 0.21), and depression (d = 0.17). Compared to adolescents who were never exposed to an MVA with injury, witnesses reported significantly more externalizing symptoms (d = 0.24). In multiple regression analyses the significant difference between witnesses and victims disappeared when sex, other stressful events, appraisals, and coping were added to the model. These findings suggest that adolescent witnesses, as well as direct victims, may be at risk for posttraumatic reactions.

[Prevalence and factors associated with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in emergency workers: a systematic literature review]

OBJECTIVE

To identify the prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in emergency workers and determine the factors associated with outcomes.

METHODS

Seven databases were consulted (Medline via Pubmed, PsycINFO, LILACS, SciELO, BDENF, DISASTERS, and MEDCARIB) between September 10 and 25, 2009. The search only included articles published in Portuguese, English or Spanish between 2004 and 2009. The key-words involved terms related to emergency services/workers, Posttraumatic stress disorder, working conditions, and occupational health. Quantitative observational studies on PTSD prevalence and determinant or associated factors regarding the health of firefighters, emergency ambulance personnel, Red Cross workers, and medical emergency workers were included. Studies using samples unrelated to the purposes of this review (police officers, volunteers and emergency workers' children) or that did not include PTSD symptoms as the dependent variable in at least one of the objectives of the study were excluded.

RESULTS

30 articles were selected by reading the titles and abstracts. 17 complete articles were reviewed and analyzed. Studies adopted different research designs, instruments and diagnostic criteria for statistical analysis. The prevalence of the disease ranged from absence of reported cases to a rate of 38.5%. Socio-demographic, biological and psychological characteristics, morbidity, exposure to occupational and non-occupational traumatic events, and work and job features were associated with the prevalence of PTSD in emergency workers.

CONCLUSION

Individual and contextual variables are considered as factors associated with PTSD, which explains the multidimensional nature of the outcome studied.